Box Score

ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix women's soccer team held the lead only once in Friday night's Southern Conference showdown with the visiting College of Cougars, but it was at the right time as the Phoenix earned a 4-3 overtime victory from Rudd Field on Brittany Hallberg's goal in the 96th minute.

"For our team to come from behind three different times against an opponent of that quality is very inspiring as a coach," stated Elon head coach Chris Neal.

The Cougars (6-7-0, 3-2-0 SoCon) nearly took a 1-0 lead just 1:20 into the game when Morgan Benz fired a shot across the goal mouth that was denied by a sprawling Kristen Haney.  About 25 minutes later CofC would get on the board with the game's first tally.  Benz weaved through three Phoenix defenders and found Hope Atkinson on the right side of the goal for the score at 27:03.  It was her third score of the season.

Elon (8-4-1, 3-2-0) got the equalizer less than 10 minutes later when Alanna Winsper blasted a penalty kick into the back of the net after teammate Chelsey Stark was hauled down in the box at the 36:31 mark.  Winsper's tally was the fourth of the 2010 campaign for her.

CofC regained its one-goal advantage in the 55th minute when Sarah Schaidle collected a pass from Megan Hilbert and beat Haney for the score.  It was the team-leading sixth goal of the year for Schaidle.

The Cougar lead was short-lived as the Phoenix knotted the game at two in the 58th minute of play.  Winsper's corner kick sailed into the box where it found the head of Scarlett Fakhar who redirected the ball into the top of the net for her second goal of the season.

Once again, CofC responded.  At the 63:41 mark, Atkinson netted her second goal of the night after an Elon defender misplayed a ball on the back line.

With time winding down the Phoenix continued to pressure the Cougar defense and earned a corner kick with just over 2:30 to play in regulation.  Again Winsper drilled the ball into the box where it found the head of Claire O'Keeffe.  The ball continued along the line of players before Simi Dhaliwal headed the ball into the left side of the goal for the tying score.  It was the first collegiate goal for Dhaliwal and forced extra time.

Playing its third overtime contest of the season, Elon got off the only two attempts in the period.  The second of which was Hallberg's team-leading sixth goal of the season.  The tally was set up when Hallberg dribbled into the Cougar defense and quickly passed to the right to Stark.  Hallberg continued toward the goal and Stark immediately sent the ball back to Hallberg who beat CofC's Katie Tate low and to the left for the game-winner.  Of Hallberg's six goals, three have been game-winning markers.

Haney finished the night with two saves while Tate stopped four shots.

Elon has now won three straight against College of Charleston and gained an important three points in the tightly contested Southern Conference standings.

The Phoenix will play host to The Citadel at 2 p.m. on Sunday.  Prior to the game, the squad will honor its senior members.  CofC will visit UNC Greensboro at 1 p.m. that same afternoon.